i

r a

NELSON MANDELA

y i z i

% Leader H-'-!

Throughout South Africa's history of struggle against apartheid ex­ploitation and oppression, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela has been the source of inspiration to all the oi>- pressed people of this land. Nelson

Mandela (65) has been declared a leader of the people, a leader who has shared with his countrymen the yoke of oppression; a leader who has stood with the people in their fight for a non-racial democratic South Africa. A leader who has been incursirated in prison for the last 19 years by the S.A. regime. Through­out the country and the world, the cry for the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners continues. The Fre* Mandela Campaign was launched in 1980 and has gained momentum.

Nelson Mandela was born in the Transkei in 1918. After studying at Healdtown, Mandela went to Fort Hare in 1938, but was suspended in 1940 after a student protest. He completed his B.A. degree in 1942 through UN1SA and in 1943 began to study for a law degree at Wits with Walter Sisulu.

Mandela together with Sisulu ar.d

Oliver Tambo, helped form the African National Congress Youth League (ANC YL), thus the foundation for the creation of a mass political organisation was built. The ANC Youth League was one result of their tireless efforts and more important it succeeded in injecting new vitality into the ANC. In 1949, Nelson Mandela was elected onto the National Executive of the ANC, and in 1950 Mandela becam? National President of ANC • Youth League. Through him the ANC rejected the aging tactic of petitions and sending deputations to the government instead Mandela instituted the move to organising united mass resistance. This was manifested in the Programme of Action of the ANC which was adopted in 1949-

By June 1952 Mandela became volunteer in-chief of the Defiance Campaign launched against unjust repressive laws.

The Defiance Campaign, one of our country’s most historic events, led to a massive show of support for the call made by the ANC and its allies.

In it, historical alliances were made

between the ANC and the South African Indian Congress. The campaign, in­volving tens of thousands of people, succeeded in creating an increasing awareness both at home and abroad on the plight of the oppressed people of South Africa. In December, Mandela was one of 20 charged under sup­pression of Communism Act and given a 9 months suspended sentence and banned from attending gatherings.

In order to decentralize and streng­then the organisation, Mandela implemented the M — Plan (named after him), a scheme to build a mass membership tha' yas organised into cells at grassroot levels. Mandela, in the meantime joined Oliver lambo in forming a joint legal practise, but obstacles were placed on their path by the Transvaal Law Society.

because it contains the concrete demands of oppressed people. It h»9 linked all these demands together, and shown how they form part of the national democratic struggle. The Freedom Charter also expresses the unity of all progressive forces. It is a broadly democratic document, including the demands of all groups. Nevertheless, the demands of the workers, the most oppressed and exploited group, are clea-ly the leading demands. 28 years later, none .of these demands have been met. But struggles in the communities, schrols, universities and factories still find their basis in the Charter.

In 1956, Mandela and 15J Congress Alliance leaders were charred with treason. The Treason Trial ended in 1961 and the people's leaders were acquitted due to lack of s:ate

T U i S ' r A K J G O F T H E P E O P L E ' W A S T H E M O S T U E

p r I s ^ n w i v e n a t i o n a l c o n v e n t i o n o f s o u t h

Thus ve'T Nelson Mandela involved in mass work with the ANC. After the historic defiance campaign, the

Congress Alliance (ANC, South African Indian Congress, S.A. Coloured Peoples Congress, white Congress of Democrats, South African Congress of Trade Unions) embarked on the historic task of asking people what they want.

Thus on June 26

1955 , 3000 delegates from all over South Africa gathered in Kliptown to draft the most democratic docu­ment in our history of resistance- the FREEDOM CHARTER. Since then, the Freedom Charter (the minimum demands of the, people) has lived in the hearts of the people. It lives

evidence. Concurrent with the tria!s, , all legitimate and peaceful me^ns ! of resistance were met with violence by the state. After the anti-pass campaign of I960 and the Sharpeville massacre, the state declared a State of Emergency and the ANC was banned.(8 April I960). More and more

people were arrested. Many left the country to continue the struggle frrm outside the borders of South Africa. Some leaders, like Oliver Tambo began to co-ordinate the action of the ANC and the external mission was establis­hed. This was the time when many men and women left home, it was also the time when South Africa's people's leaders felt there was no

alternative, but the armed struggle. •It was a hard decision to make, rbut it made clear that all other avenues for peaceful change was closed, thus the ANC was forced to take up arms.

During 1961 Mandela helped create Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation), the military wing of the ANC. He then slipped out of the country to rally support and obtain assistance for the coming armed struggle. After undergoing a brief military training in Algeria, Mandela addressed the Conference of the Pan African Freedom Movement in Addis Ababa in January 1962. He explained why the move to armed struggle had been made and stated that channels for peaceful change no longer existed. Mandela returned home in August 1962 and was arrested in Durban and sentenced for 5 years for calling a strike and leaving the country illeoalh

T H E T R E A S O N T R J A L W E N T O N

Raymond Mhlaba, Andrew Mlangeni, Govin Mbeki, Dennis Goldberg and many other leaders. In the "Rivonia Trials" Mandela was the 1st accused and found guilty of high treason and being a member of the MK, Nelson Mandela and his comrades were thus sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island.

During the trial. Mandela ont'in-Hthe reasons for his involvement in

, . 5 ruggle for liberation. He a muted that he was guilty of

warfare PreParations fcr guerilla

fv. ar8 ued that ** could o ey the laws that entrenched

white minority domination since he and the black people of South Africa had had no say in its formulatic*. His ideal was a non-racial democratic oouth Africa and it was an ideal

Jhat he was prepared to die for.

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THE TRIAL BOOSTEDTHE PRESTIGE OF THE A N C AMD 05 LEADERS AND STRENGTHENED SOUtV^RJTy WfTH ITS

A L L I E S , A S N E L L A S U / f T H T H E B IAC K M A S S F 5t h e ’a c c u s e d b e c a m e h e r o e s . S U P P O R T F O Q T H E L&\DERS~GJ?E!/nJ.

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In 1963, the underground leadership was arrested in Rivonia. Mandela was brought from prison to stand trial as a member of the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) high command. He stood together with Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Elias Motsoaledi,

i. MAN I NEVEk. COULD F1GUR.E TVliS CONGRESS OUT. BU T THIS TRIAL PROVES THAT THER-e MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING IN

1 I IHAT THEV HAVE BEEM Pnt

Transference of Pol iticaVcTri sdner

to Pollsmoo

There has been wide spread specul­

ation on why the Government removed

M andela, Sisulu and other political

prisoners from Robben Island to

Pollsmoor on the Cape m ainland .

The regime has kept its intentions

secret. But no matter where, Mandela

Sisulu and the others are still in

prison.

Firstly, there is talk that the regime

will do aw ay with Robben Island

and turn it into a tourist resort

or more likely into a military base .

Mandeb must

S e c o n d l y , it i s c l e a r that throughout t h e i r p e r i o d of imprisonment , the S t a t e h a s f a i l e d to b r e a k the unity of the g r o u p . It is a l s o c l e a r that a l l e f f o r t s , i n c l u d i n g the h a r s h c o n d i t i o n s a n d t o r tu r e , d id not b r e a k down t h e i r s p i r i t of d e t e r ­m in a t io n .

T h e r e f o r e t h i s move bfc the Sta te c o u ld be the b e g i n n i n g of the b r e a k ­in g up of that s o l i d g r o u p who a c t e d c o u r a g e o u s l y a n d demonst rat ed the t r u e c a l i b r e of l e a d e r s h i p .

But w he th e r in Robben I s l a n d or P o l l s m o o r , they a r e s t i l l the p r i s o n e r s a n d t h e re fo re the c a m p a i g n for their r e l e a s e must c o n t i n u e .

go FreeThe Campaign to free Nelson M^r.dela

and all other political prisoners has

spread to all parts of South Africa

and the world. The call was ir.ade out

of an understanding of what is needed

■by South Africa to resolve conflict

and eliminate repression and exploit­ation.

Mandela is the obvious leader of the

people. He is a symbol of the will

of the people. His ideals are in unity

with those of the people - the Freedom

Charter. As such they can neither ever

be suppressed nor destroyed. The call

for the release of Mandela, Sisulu,

Mbeki and all other political prisoners

stem from a deep comsitnent to justice

and democracy. It stews from a belief

that the future of our country can

only be shaped by all its people. There­

fore the release of the true leaders

of the people is a necessary pre­

requisite.

Today Mandela still creates a spirit

of resistance which has led the op­

pressed people in their struggles.

That same spirit evokes in us deep

cossnitwent, conviction and will to

carry on, and the knowledge that victory

is certain.

The call is:

FREE MANDELA and ALL OTHER POLITICAL

PRISONERS!

LONS LIVE THE FREEDOM CHARTER!

flAADELA - RECOGNISED WORLD WIDE

THE FREED O M C H A R T E R •The people shall govern * All national groups shall have equal rights •The people shall share in the country's wealth •T he land shall b ® ^ a r e d among those who work it*AII shall be equal before the taw •A ll shall enjoy equal human rights •There shall be work and security •T h e doors o f teaming and culture shall be opened •T here shall be houses, security and comfort •T here shall be peace and friendship

A ^ m O P L f ^ f A D E R

Nelson Mandela, South 'Africa's most

recognised political prisoner and leader

of the ANC has an impressive list of

honours conferred on him. The following

attests to the fact that he is re­

cognised both nationally and inter­

nationally as the true leader of the

South African people.

1 . Volunteer-in-chief of National De­

fiance Campaign - 1952.

2 . ANC executive - 1953.

3 . President Transvall ANC - 1953.

4 . Commandes— in-chief of Iknkhonto we

Sizwe (MK).

5 . Life imprisonment for sabotage -

1964.

0 . Honorary President of Leeds Univers­

ity Union - 1964.

7 . Honorary President of University

College of London - 1964.

8 . Nuclaar particle discovered at Leeds

University was named after him -

1973.

9 . Honorary life membership conferred

on him by the University of London

Unin, in recognition of the historic

role he has played in the world­

wide fight against racism. - 1975.

10. Doctor of Laws - University of

Lesotho - 1979.

11 . Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Inter­

national understanding—India - 1979.

12. Freedom of the city of Glasglow

- 1981.

13. Bruno Kreisky Foundation Award for

"Meritorious work in Human Rights

- Austria 1981".

16. Honorary citizen of the Greek Vil­

lage of Ancient Olympia - March 1983.

17 . Doctor of Laws - City College of New York - 1983.

18. Other honours include a street

in Camden, North London, where

the anti-apartheid movement has

its headquarters, to be named after

its headquarters, to be named after him.

The South African government has refused

permission for some of the awards tc

be conferred on the ANC leader now

in Pollsmoor Prison. The QOv’ernriert

has also refused to allow Mrs. Winriie

Mandela, his wife to travel outside

the country to receive the awards on his behalf.

14. Freedom of the City of Rome — 1982.

(Highest Award in Rome).

15. Leeds City Council named the gardens in front of the city hall after

the ANC leader in "Tribute to a

man who is paying the price for

struggling for freedom" - 1982.

p

‘Bid to breakV

Mandela'The Star Bw e m

LONDON - CM&pUiau by ANC leader Neteaa Mandela

■t hit condlrt— i at Polls-

l^\XiyCMacil'W«Mrtrrf .%m «api—atha d p * "subtle

eraelty" to wbidb J-andaU was allegedly baiig rsb>aeted waa grree bcra this waafc to a spa-cUlis. group from lb* UN mission by writer Mary Beam, a friend of tba Mi-rtali family. .

Min Beam p n evidence to Uk froop, which Is making its anno*I visit from Genera to galher informatioa about humaa rights'rinlttiaar toSoatt Africa, Z

The 'fealrmaa of the grasp. Ghana's %inSanxkr Mr A Calc, promiaea ti* grccp would "as plorc ways ai making hi* (Maa> deli's) caodlUcas man tolar*

baaed oc a letter i from M n Wkaala Mandela es- plainlcg her kuabacd'* hard-

Hb all tba 21 yean of Nelson Mandela's tmprisosaenC I have never before detected such a note of deaperatiea ta a descrip- tioa of a viait to him," said Mias Becaoa. who was bora la South Afnca bat expelled from there la 1M( after serving a term of

Mr and Mn Mandela had de­cided to riak breaking prison regulation aad the law by pub­licising his coadltioaa because these were "deteriorating terri­bly” and the authorities refused

After the move'from Rafcbaa ’ Island to Pallamoor la April)

, jtffeManjtiaaed tmm a » ia U - ed frwnuae bfenfii beam

w ith torthe-yccjg p» • ■ f *s He waa tbarinf *

five other priaenan wkicb mad*1 amdying difficult ■:>.

He was partidarly wt about the damp to the eeft

Mandela and Wa.c*'- arere Isolated from ether ers and ware not aveaHal on* fide for exercise, she said.

Mandela’s prison eond were criticised in a leUvr to TRJJ; Tiroes this weak siloed by Duke of Devonshire, Mr Healey and Mr David Steel.'

Tbe thrae alas cU ra to bad news of Mandela ta “aieti rea d in g Loodoc" from hit wM| Wicate. >3

It « es hoped, the eBrreayei, Jdewa -wre***** tb* —

conditions'-34n Maadels’s tas­ter brings the si .lister news (bit the ODnaaite is the case." £

They claim that Mandela fcig told his wife “in a restricted coo versa t too" that be and He other five bad been moved to in­crease the severity of their pop- ishmeat , - *

The Duke,'the deputy leader of tbe Labour Party and -tfie leader of the Liberals concluded their letter “Mn Mandela's Ut­ter is a plain «ry for help

“ If we In the West take-joo notice, the younger generation of African leaden are not llktiy to forget" (

'a v .v .v .v a v .\v a \\\v .v .v a v .\%v !v !v Iv ^ ^ ^ ^ t1S

Betray the Freedom *Charter and you betray the people — Mandela

Zinzi Mandela, daughter of jailed >VJC

’leader, Nelson Mandela, has labelled

those who rejected the Freedom Charter

as "traitors". Those who dared attack

the Charter and pose alternatives in

the fona of their manifesto are divert­

ing the peoples struggle. These people

aJlso spend much time attacking political

leaders who could not reply because

they were in ja i l , she said.

These individuals had no relevance

to the populr moven>ents ana only

attacked apartheid because they wish

to govern under a similar system them­

selves. "The ANC is the future gr>verr>-

atent of the country".

. aAnother speaker, Dr Essop Jassat,

president of the TIC, aisc said, "so*>e

people" had met recently unde- the

guise of unity, and una^r this guise,

began to attack democratic br1if*s SLdi as the tX>f and TIC. t.s rejer*- this

attack with the contempt it deser'ves.

»e , of the progressive democratic move­

ment are proud of our history of

struggle. "The greatest acts of unity

came from the Congress Alliance, led

by the ANC".

■>To those who hope to divert the struggle

and confuse the people, to them, we

*ay » history w ill bear harsh judgement on you a ll .

THE PEOPLE

with that?SHALL GOVERN — what's wrong

Mandela'TV Sur Boreas

LONDON — Complaints by ANC lesxler Nebon Mandela ■boot his cnnditiow a; Polb- moor Prisoo been laid before the United Natioai Human Rights Commission with aa appeal that the Seen* nty CoondJ be alerted.

An erpUaatioo ci the ' subtle crueltr" to whlci MandeU was allsgedly being snb)eetod was grvtn her* this week to a spe­cialist group from tbs UN com- mission by writer Mary Benson, a friend of the Mandela family.

Min Besaoo p n evidence to the group, which is malting its aanoal visit from Geneva to gather iaformatloa about human rights vtoisrtans ta Sonth Africa.

The chairman of the group, Ghana's ambassador Mr A Cato, promised toe groop would “a plore ways of making his (Man­dela’s) conditions more toler­able.'*

Mias Benaoa's erideaee was

from Mrs Winnie Mandrls ex­plaining her husband's hard-

"1b ail the O yw v of Nelaoa Mandela's tmprtsosanent! have never before detected sach a note of desperation to a descrip­tion of a rhrft to him.’ said Miss Benoan, who was hen la South Africa but expelled from there la 1MC after serving a term of bouae Imprisonment

Mr ss>d Mrs Mandela had de­cided to risk breaking prison regulations and the law by pub­licising his conduces because these were “detencrailng terri­bly" and the authorities refused

to receive thetr complaint*, uid Misi Benson.

After the move Iran Rcbbcs lilind to Pollimoor ic April i m Mandela had beer separat­ed from the friend* be hid lived with for the put 10 years

He was staring a cel! with five other pnsone.-s wticfc nvde studying dlfficul'-

He was particlarly worried about the damp to the celL

Mandela aed his cellmates were tsciated from other prison­ers and were net even taken outside for exercise, she said.

Mandela's prison conditions criticised in a letter to The

Times this week sigDed by the Duke of Devonshire. Mr Denis Healey and Mr David StecL

The throe also claim to have had news of Mandela in "a letter reaching London" from his wife Winnie.

It was hoped, the correspon- wrote, that tbs move to a

Mandela's let­ter brings the sinister news that the opposite b the case ."

They claim that Mandela had told his wife “in a restricted conversation" that be and the other five had been moved to in­crease the severity of their pun­ishment.

The Duke the deputy leader of the Labour Party anrf the leader of tbe Liberals concluded their letter "Mrs Mandela's let­ter is s plain cry tor help

“If we in the West take no notice, tbe younger generation of African leaders art not likely to forget’

Betray the Freedom : Charter and you betray the people — Mandela

Zir.zi Mandela, daughter of jailed A*C

leader, Nelson Mandela, has labelled

those who -rejected the Freedom C^arte-

as "traitors". Those who dared uttacn

ths ' Charter and pose alternatives ir>

the form of their manifesto are diver;-

ing the peoples struggle. Thes*- peopi'

aJf,o spend much time attacking political

leaders who could not renly because

they were in ja il , she said.

These individuals had no relevance

to the '-populr mo*ef..ents and onij

attacked apartheid because they wish

to govern under a similar system tthem­

selves. "The ANC is the future govern­

ment of the country".

Another speaker, Dr Essop Jasaat,

president of the TIC , also said, "some

people" had met recently under the

guise of unity, and under this guise,

began to attack democratic bodies such

as the UDF and TIC. He reject this

wiTTT'-'t^e''-con1retfprt~‘ U ' deserves.

We, of the progressive democratic move­

ment are proud of our history of

struggle. "The greatest acts of unity

came from the Congress Alliance, led by the ANC".

To those who hope to divert the struggle

and confuse the people, to them, we say, history will bear harsh judgement on you a ll .

THE PEOPLE SHALL GOVERN - what’ s wrong

with that?

MANDELA - RECOGNISED WORLD WIDE

A ^ m O P ^ ^ I A D E R

Nelson Mandela, South A fr ic a 's most

recognised political prisoner and leader

of the AMC has an impressive list of

honours conferred on h i* . The following

i tests to the fact that he is re­

cognised both nationally and inter­

nationally as the true leader of the

South African people.

1 . Volunteer-in-chief of National De­

fiance Campaign - 1952.

2 . ANC executive - 1953.

3 . President Transvall ANC - 1953.

4 . Commander-in-chief of Unkhonto we

Slzwe (MK).

5 . Life imprisonment for sabotage -

1964.

6 . Honorary President of Leeds Univers­

ity Union - 1964.

7 . Honorary President of University

College of London - 1964.

S . Nuclear particle discovered at Leeds

University was named after hi* -

1973.

9. Honorary life membership conferred

on hi* by the University of London

Unin, in recognition of the historic

role he has played in the world­

wide fight against racism. - 1975.

10. Doctor of Laws

Lesotho - 1979.

- University of

1 1.Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Inter­

national understanding-India - 1979.

12 . Freedom of the city of Glasglow

- 1981.

13 . Bruno Kreisky Foundation Award f®r

"Meritorious work in Human Rights

- Austria 1981 ".

14 .

15.

|.v.v.v

Freedom of the City of Rome - 1982.

(Highest Award in Rome).

Leeds City Council named the gardens in front of the city hall after

the ANC leader in "Tribute to a

man who is paying the price for

struggling for freedom" - 1982.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • a • • • ................................................ ....

^ \

s c ■ \

16. Honorary citizen of the Greek Vil­

lage of Ancient Olympia - Marci 1983.

17. Doctor of Laws - City College of

New York - 1983.

18 . Other honours include a street

in Camden, North London, where

the anti—apartheid movement has

its headquarters, to be named after

its headquarters, to be named after him.

The South African government has refuses

permission for some of the awards to

be conferred on the ANC leader noi

in Pollsmoor Prison. The government

has also refused to allow Mrs Winnie

Mandela, his wife to travel outside

the country to receive the awards or his behalf.

! V'1' •» -!rf. 1V E J K S S "> *r- C W l. v..i; / a - t

N

THE FREED O M C H A R T E R •The people shall govern •A ll national groups shall have equal rights •The people shall share in the country's wealth •T he land shall he shared among those who work rt •A ll shall be equal before the law •A ll shall enjoy equal human rights •There shall be work and security •T he doors o f learning and culture shall be openec •T here shall be houses, security and com fort •There shall be peace and friendship

Collection Number: AK2117 DELMAS TREASON TRIAL 1985 - 1989 PUBLISHER: Publisher:-Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand Location:-Johannesburg ©2012

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